Sunday, August 16, 2009

A Day in the Park & Baby Sized Burritos

Yesterday I loaded up my car with friends and drove to the ferry. Our ultimate goal? An Improv Party that I saw an email about... We listened to a few new CDs (Needtobreathe, Group 1 Crew, Above the Golden State) as we made our way to Gas Works Park in Seattle. It took a long time, but it was sooo worth it. I have a new favorite place.

It was a beautiful day, and the park is so totally my speed. It's got a big mound where people were flying kites, there were two weddings going on, numerous photographers throughout, really cool pipes and industrial leftovers, and it didn't feel crowded at all!

We got straight to work exploring the park and found the "play barn" where a young man was having senior photos while mom and dad provided bits of encouragement. Seth nearly got blown away in a windstorm.Then, we ran into a person I know! We were in the right place for the Improv! :) As happens sometimes, there was a switching around of sunglasses/glasses. Turns out, I missed my decade:

I soooo should have been in the 50's.

After that bit of exploring and socializing, we got to enjoy the work of Clean Slate Improv. I laughed so hard I gave myself a headache.

I am very pleased to report that they used my suggestions several times.

When they were done, we all stood around talking until the sun was going down and a couple people were so hungry they actually ate the Clif Bars I brought with me. So, we caravanned to Gorditos, home of the infant sized burrito. I didn't have one, but what I did have was delicious. (A veggie taco.) This is half of the burrito that the guys across from me had:

Gives new meaning to "food baby".

By then it was getting late, so we headed back to the ferry, and hence home. Long day, but so wonderful.

Beautiful, but Disappointing...

I chopped. I diced. I peeled. I seeded. I made a thing of beauty, a chopped salad.

The disappointing part? The cucumber was the most bitter thing I have ever tasted. And I forgot to taste it before I mixed it thoroughly with the other veggies. Boo.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Garage Voice's Album: Let Us Reconcile

I know I've written about these guys a couple times before, but bear with me one more time: there's free music in it for me. :)

I've been thinking about the difference between experiencing a band live and listening to their recordings, especially after Creation, where I found out I don't like a band in person that I do like on CD. Some bands are better live, and others are great recording artists - the fun part about Garage Voice is that they're both. The thing is that their music really should be played in a place that you have the option of getting up and dancing because it really makes me want to move (and other people, I assume). Thus the benefit of the CD - you can listen to them anywhere!

Let Us Reconcile has all the things I liked about Garage Voice when I first heard them: Great lyrics, fun bass lines, intelligence, humor, and general "listenability" (did I just make that word up?). I think the album has broad appeal - a little bit of something for everyone.

Probably the thing I like the best (besides the pleasant eardrum tickling) is the lyrics. My favorite phrase comes on the third song, Repentance:
"Every time I hear the word of law
The love of God just blows my mind
Tells me I can be confident His love is really enough"

Another gem? In Tips of Your Hands, they say:
"Habits are structured by what often occupies the mind
It builds up a highway and keeps it prioritized"
which makes me wonder, "What often occupies my mind?".

My favorite song when I first got the CD was Mercy Came a Runnin' - it's got some great accapella bits and guitar... Then, it was Book It. Today? Maybe Cropper - I was groovin' whilst mixing up a blueberry lime desert and enjoyed the music as much as the sweetness. Or perhaps In My Iniquity - any song that can gracefully combine tuba, organ, and guitar is to be recognized!

Find Garage Voice online at garagevoice.com

Okay, thanks for reading - I know I don't have the encyclopedic knowledge required to write a proper review with allusions and comparisons, but the bottom line is: It's a great album from a really great band. Listen. Posthaste.